Why West Virginia Will UPSET Penn State in College Football Week One | Expansion Big 12 OVER Big 10

West Virginia vs Penn State mountainer Paul on the show today talking about the biggest game in the non-conference in the Big 12 Penn State will host West Virginia will host Penn State in week one of the college football season and West Virginia will win that game Paul why simple to me um you know I'll go back to last year really quick the score wasn't really indicative of the competitiveness of the game unexpectly tight game 100% yeah they pulled away late and James Franklin's really known to to watch and see what the spread are and he is a he loves to cover the spread um you hear the the phrase good teams cover the spread he mentions that all the time so you know for me he he scored that back in touchdown it made it look a little worse but at the end of the day Drew all had a day uh somebody they do not have this year Keandre Lambert Smith transferred to alurn he was the number one receiver last year they're going to be looking for Trey Wallace to step up for them and be that number one receiver or Julian Fleming the five-star Ohio State transfer that didn't see the field there in a couple of years years so I think that's going to be something to watch Theo Johnson moves on to the NFL for them Tyler Warren who is a really good tight end is going to be trying to replace him he'll probably be the number one option in game one in my opinion and then they lose three offensive lineman pits that does I'm building a case for West Virginia through my question are is for Penn State fashion Wallace Hunter North zad on the offensive line all gone to the NFL for Penn State they've got to replace a ton of production including possibly the best tackle in football last fash fashion first round pick yic is out Diaz is out cotal Nikki's in Allen's in you're replacing two coordinators that's tough in my opinion especially in game one is cotal Nikki scary yes we all know what he can do what's he going to do with an immobile quarterback and Drew Allard though I'm curious to see they do have a backup that has a ton of speed and athleticism we'll see what happens with that but I just think in game one I I I bring that up because I think you know getting them in game one is important here with this prediction West Virginia returns 93% of its production and a ton of continuity and that includes the front entire front seven returns we're hearing the back end of that defense is jelling and the special teams have improved West Virginia I do know for a fact is going to be able to run the ball against SP State they did it last year they ran for over 150 yards against them and they're going to be much improved this year with a two- running back system and Jem white didn't even play last year's game and that's scary and of its own self so for me the reason West Virginia wins is because of these questions ard's out Diaz out cotal Nikki in Allen in fashion Wallace Hunter nored out how you going to replace all that offens of line production Trey Wallace is gonna have to replace Keandre Lambert Smith Julian uh Julian Fleming comes in never played at Ohio State he's going to have to be a guy all of a sudden and then Tyler Warren is going to be really their only weapon in game one in my opinion and I'm not as deep into Penn State as maybe some of their guys are like locked on Penn State we debated but I feel like I make a pretty strong argument I would rather have Garrick Garrett Green green than Drew all I I'm not scared of a Drew all on the road especially in a road environment like Morgantown West Virginia and I I point here to Garrett green Jim White obviously spectacular and CJ Donaldson is massive very good creates a great backfield but I would argue Garrett green is as prolific a runner as he is a passer the guy on the ground is electric and almost gives you a third running back a third option certainly there that made West Virginia the fourth best rushing offense in the country last year the question I would then pose 91st in the country in passing offense will that change this season maybe even better does it need to change it does need to get better consistency wise obviously Garrett green led the country in deep ball passes last year with 31 what they consider Big Time throws like through PFF he also led the country in the two-minute drill I had Max on from the Pro Football Focus he looked that up live on my show Garrett green led the country under two minutes last year he had several game-winning drives unfortunately the Houston one doesn't count because of what happened yeah but um was a hell of a drive too goell a drive you know Garrett's a big game hunter he loves to throw it deep he throws an excellent deep Ball but what guys like Justin Robins and and Bray you're going to do is give him over 6'2 receivers that can really control the middle of the field and you've got a 67 tight in in his second year in the offense with with Garrett as well and then Garrett was uh mentioned as one of the five best uh at the Manning Passing Academy he's really worked on his footwork it was his first year ever as a starter as a quarterback last year and he rushed for almost a thousand yards and 13 touchdowns of the ground I'm I'm exaggerating a little bit it was more like 800 but you know in my head it's almost a thousand right you know uh and they were the number one power four rushing team you know so you mentioned fourth you're right but among power four teams number one I like so I wanted to point that out as well because it it sounded like I was lying just wanted to make sure but um you know so for me I think those are all going to be huge factors Garrett has to get better at throwing in the middle of the field he he's got to do that his completion percentage is bad at 53% we feel like if he can raise that 7% which is doable to 60 we feel good about it so he's got to improve no doubt about it one of my Hudson Clement favorite players that we have not mentioned a whole lot yet and maybe my favorite sneaky player coming into the Big 12 this season Hudson Clement thoughts on one Hudson Clement yeah uh huy tutty man as we call him you know he is a completely different body this year he was also a freshman last year and right like hello yeah he earned his scholarship after the Duan game and you know he he really really deserved it man what a story and we're rooting for him obviously any West Virginia kid like him and P Fox we we all want them guys to do well and and and Hudson's an outside guy you know P Fox is your inside an inside slot guy and he has the best hands on the team you know he's made spectacular catch over spectacular catch if Preston Fox was 6' three he'd be an NFL draft pick you know and I'm not saying he still can't be but he is more like your Wes Welker you know and and so we're really looking forward to he's going to be a starter you know he's going to be one of the one of the starters coming right out the gate Preston Fox along with huy tutty so we're really excited then we're probably thinking T ray or or Bray going to be one of the other guys but Cole Taylor is really I feel like gonna have a big year this year and one other guy I feel like deserves some credit or some mention really quick it you know doesn't get talked about at all we people talked about our entire offensive line as a whole but Wyatt milum is a first round draft pick and hasn't allowed a sack in two years you know and he's really going to that Abdul Carter Wyatt mil matchup in week one at Penn State may be two of the 10 best players in all of college football going against each other that day I just can't man a freshman walk on earns a scholarship midseason and puts up almost 500 yards receiving um and only on 22 I say only but 22 receptions that translates to 500 yards is 20 yards a catch yeah he he really is a deep guy that's what he gives you um look first and foremost I say first and foremost as if we're not already done with the show congratulations on being the host of lockon West Virginia before we go where can folks find more of your stuff on social media as you transition into that into that show yeah it's r r at Paul mountainer um and thank you for letting me do that uh you can find most of my West Virginia content goes on there I you know if I'm live it'll also be live on X usually and then Hoops Hills um is another show that I do that's separate from the locked on but it's on X as well and that's basketball content but that'll probably be changing some gotcha that's M here Paul thanks for joining the show today thanks man and for those listening thank you for making this show your first listen every single day coming up tomorrow even more about the Big 12 Conference as we transform into the 2024 college football season this has been always will be locked on thanks for making it your first listen every single day do Grande [Music]